I Think I Like Facials

The pivot to Chiang Mai turned out to be a great move. The weather has been fantastic — upper 70s to low 80s with no rain — and we chose a wonderful hotel right on the Ping River. From our balcony, the view stretches across the water, and every morning Sonja has sat outside with her coffee, watching the day break. More than once I’ve heard her sigh, “Can we just stay here?”

Our time has been wonderfully relaxing. We reconnected with friends who own a restaurant we frequented last year. Back then, we left them a small Seattle Police bear, and sure enough, it still sits proudly by their cash register. When we walked in, their faces lit up with recognition: “I know you. From Seattle!” Hugs, smiles, and mango sticky rice followed, along with laughter when they saw themselves featured in our YouTube video.

The rest of our days were spent strolling through the city, savoring Chiang Mai’s charm, and indulging in incredible meals — including a couple of Michelin‑starred restaurants. 

But the highlight came on our second night: two and a half hours of body scrub, body wrap, massage, and a facial. This was my second facial of the trip, and I’m beginning to wonder if women have been hiding these things from men all along. You’ll never see an ad for facials during a football game, but I’m here to say they’re pretty amazing. My testosterone may not be impressed, but my skin is oooh so soft.

Tomorrow we fly to Bangkok to rejoin our original schedule. We’re excited for our second visit there and the adventures ahead. One side note: we received a text from the Vietnam postal service that the two boxes of gifts we mailed from Hanoi were refused by the U.S. government. Apparently, they’re not accepting packages from Vietnam. I guess America is great again, huh?

✨ Papa’s Travel Tips

• Don’t knock facials until you’ve tried one. They may not boost your testosterone, but they’ll make your skin feel like silk.

• Leave a little gift behind. You never know when it will greet you on your next visit — even a Seattle Police bear can become a restaurant mascot.

• Balcony mornings are priceless. Sometimes the best travel memories are made with coffee, quiet, and a sunrise.

• Google Translate is your best travel buddy. It may not be perfect, but it can turn “what’s good?” into sweet bread and laughter.